“This old town of Salem- my native place, though I have dwelt much away from it, both in boyhood and maturer years-possesses, or did possess, a hold on my affections, the force of which I have never realized during my seasons of actual
residence here.” pg 274
I’ve left my home country almost three years ago. In the time I spent home I didn’t ever really appreciate it, my home, nor cared much for it. I miss it in the very back of my mind. It is still part of me no matter how far away I go, nor how much did I think about it in my earlier years, it will always be with me. Our native place will always have a part in who we are and what we do.
~
"My eyes fastened themselves upon the old scarlet letter, and would not be turned aside.” Pg 296
This quote gives me the idea of something that catches your eye, which in my own life I can relate to my sister. She is a dwarf, a small person that tends to be stared at everywhere we go. Sometimes with prejudice for not understanding or with disgust even. She causes no shame to me, and I proudly accept her as she is. It’s kind of like the people’s attitude in the book as it goes. They accept her and sort of forget about the letter’s real meaning and give a new one; a good meaning.
~
“To confess the truth, it was my greatest apprehension- as it would never be a measure of policy to turn out so quiet an individual as myself…it was my chief trouble.” Pg 304-305
This quote is about the letter torments Hawthorne, to do something with it. I’ve had situations like that. Something troubles me and there is something I need to do about it. Sometimes it’s writing, or drawing. The idea though is that different things in life, from pain to mysterious embroidery can inspire incredible stories.
The title, The Prison Door, is related to the Scarlet Letter’s symbol because it is where she received the scarlet letter and it is also where her humiliation began. The prison door is a stigma because only shameful people go to prison just like the scarlet letter is a literal representation of Hester’s shame. Also the prison door represents the hardships Hester is to face in the future because of the scarlet letter. When prisoners leave prison they are excited about their freedom, but are shunned from society for what they did. The prison door is described as a gloomy, upsetting door that doesn't bring happiness to the people that enter it. Hester's happiness ended after she entered the prison door, due to society knowing about her crime because of the scarlet letter. Chapter 2 "The Leech and his Patient": Song
The Used- "The worm and the bird"He wears his heartsafety pinned to his backpackHis backpack is all that he knowsShot down by strangerswhose glances can cripplethe heart and devour the soulAll alone he turns to stonewhile holding his breath half to deathTerrified of what’s insideto save his life he crawlslike a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdOut of his mind awaypushes him whisperingmust have been out of his mindmid-day delusions of pushing this out of his headmaybe out of his mindAll alone he turns to stonewhile holding his breath half to deathTerrified of what’s insideto save his life hecrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdAll he knowsIf he can't relieve it it growsand so it goeshe crawls like a wormcrawls like a worm from the birdOut of his mind awaypushes him whisperingmust have been out of his mindAll alone he turns to stonewhile holding his breath half to deathTerrified of what’s insideto save his life he crawlslike a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdAll alonehe's holding his breath half to deathTerrified to save his lifehe crawls like a wormCrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a wormcrawls like a wormcrawls like a worm from a bird
~ When Hester is standing before the crowd and she is experiencing flashbacks, the scarlet letter embroidered on her dress is like the “heart safety pinned to his backpack” line in the song. As Hester goes through her mind remembering her past to attempt to forget the presence of the crowd, the line “All alone he turns to stone while holding his breath half to death Terrified of what’s inside” is similar to how she would be feeling. Her memories would be the “mid-day delusions of pushing this out of his head maybe out of his mind”.
Chapter 3
The Recognition
The recognition of Chillingworth: While hester is on the stand she literaly recognises Chillingworth as her husband who was delayed in his coming. Chillingworth had just come out of the wilderness to witness his wife publicly shamed, this shame is a major theme throughout the book.
The recognition of adultery: By hester being put on the stand the crowd recognises Hesters crime publicly. The scarlet letter is also recognised as punishment for adultery, but unlike the public shame, the scarlet letter wont go away.
The recognition of importance: In this chapter the reader recognises the importance of Chillingworth to Hester by the focus the author puts upon them throughout the chapter. Chillingworth is a major character throughout the novel, he is a sourche of tension to the already tormented Hester.
The way this image represents pearl is that half the time she is a energetic (elfish) child who likes to play. The other half is the image the puritan society wants to force her into being. The puritan society was strict and conformed, the opposite of Pearl who has a lively, energetic, and colorful personality.
Chapter 7
“Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee.”
This quote relates easily to Hester. She has been branded with the scarlet letter. She wears it as a mark of shame for what she has done. She can’t give her daughter joy, a reason to be lively and joyful because at the time she herself has no none. A child needs the mother to show them by example, but Hester can’t while this is happening in her life. It can be depression, as in she has lost real happiness at this point. The townspeople just enforce this by keeping the brand alive, until later in the book. For the time being though, she suffers of the brand and can’t help her child. She feels helpless and miserable, a few symptoms of a major depressive disorder she might suffer in her seclusion.
Chapter 8
Is Hester an unfit mother?
No, Hester is not an unfit mother. Hester cares for Pearl and makes sure that she has all that she needs. Hester also corrects her daughter when she is wrong and tries to teach her morals and manners. Though Pearl is an elfish child who follows her whimsies, she does listen to her mother most of the time, which shows that she holds respect for her ; respect being an outcome of good parenting.
In the The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers the King of Rohan and Wormtounge are similar to the characters Minister Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth in The Scarlet Letter. In the movie, Wormtounge (Chillingworth) feeds off of The king of Rohans (Dimmesdale) power and subverts him into the will of Sauroman. Wormtounge appears to be helping as the kings advisor but is actualy draining his morale and willpower. The king is left with no will to run his kingdom and beaten down by wormtounges subversion.
Chapter 11 http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/citizen_times/access/2115334111.html?FMT=ABS&date=Aug+19,+2010
For this chapter I decided to pick the murder of a boy I knew, which most of you might have heard of. Whoever the killer was, he now has to live what he has done, let the guilt devour him until he comes forth and takes the righteous punishment, what he needs to pay for the pain that he has caused. It is similar to Dimmesdale, he lived his last years without coming out until the very end, he suffered for it and he died slowly thanks to it. Both situations would bring a merciless feeling of guilt, a feeling that will burn down the soul. Dimmesdale lived as a good man, he learned from the sin he had committed and changed. The murderer might be completely different, but everyone is human, everyone will have their just consequences in due time. The murderer might reflect, he might be a better person, but that is left unknown, like Dimmesdale until the end.
Chapter 13
Under The Skin
Under the skin she wears a brandHer embroidery made her less grandYet as time went by and she hid her headThe letter on her chest was no longer redShe labored and withstood the trialAs the crowd dripped kindness into her vialLittle did they remember, little did they careThe ignominy faded in midairShe begun to smile, life crawled backThrough the weathered crackEyes no longer stared, mouths no longer cursedAnd now the town was finally terseThe sin was repentedAnd her heart was no longer bentThe scars of past’s eventNo longer left a dent
This poem fits the way how Hester is treated in society now. She is no longer rejected and actually is appreciated by the community as a whole. Her stigma no longer is so important and she is now taken in as a productive member of society. The book says that she is rarely now judged by her letter. She has lived with the torment long enough, there is no reason to keep alive the ignominy she has felt as time passed by while she wore the beautiful trinket on her clothing.
Chapter 18
The minister Dimmesdale has become more forgiving of himself and wants to be a part of Pearl's life. He doesn't know if Pearl will accept him so this makes him nervous, but he gains determination from Hester to try and to also try to forgive himself. He seems to finally have the strength to push on and to strive for his happiness. The Author calls Dimmesdale by his first name, Arthur, because calling someone by their last name is considered honorable and Dimmesdale basically steps down from that honorable position to try to forgive himself. Also because he talks about running away with Hester and that would cause people to know the truth about the two of them. Basically he is being called Arthur because he is showing his true self. Final Assignment
Hawthorne chooses a daughter because they can represent many things. From purity to mischief, she was the better fitting one. A boy would be troublesome and wouldn't easily look that deep into the matters of the letter. A boy wouldn't do a lot Pearl did, and she is a very compelling instrument of the whole story. Pearl asks questions that move the plot forward and is a very, very interesting character. The character that would have committed the greatest sin was Dimmesdale. He kept it to himself, the guilt was eating him alive, literally. He didn't confess until the very end. He let his lover suffer for him, he watched her suffer of that ignominy and not do a thing, not to lose his position in the clergy. His disease and weakness was a repercussion of him not being able to allow the guilt out. Feelings like guilt kill people, slowly and painfully. Dimmesdale might have the greatest sin, but he was able to overcome it, even at the end. He is a hero in a way, a fallen hero that comes back to the light at the last possible moment. He is by far the most dynamic character through the book, and possibly the strongest in will.
By: Alejandro, Hannah, Alisha, and Landon
Introduction
“This old town of Salem- my native place, though I have dwelt much away from it, both in boyhood and maturer years-possesses, or did possess, a hold on my affections, the force of which I have never realized during my seasons of actual
residence here.” pg 274
I’ve left my home country almost three years ago. In the time I spent home I didn’t ever really appreciate it, my home, nor cared much for it. I miss it in the very back of my mind. It is still part of me no matter how far away I go, nor how much did I think about it in my earlier years, it will always be with me. Our native place will always have a part in who we are and what we do.
~
"My eyes fastened themselves upon the old scarlet letter, and would not be turned aside.” Pg 296
This quote gives me the idea of something that catches your eye, which in my own life I can relate to my sister. She is a dwarf, a small person that tends to be stared at everywhere we go. Sometimes with prejudice for not understanding or with disgust even. She causes no shame to me, and I proudly accept her as she is. It’s kind of like the people’s attitude in the book as it goes. They accept her and sort of forget about the letter’s real meaning and give a new one; a good meaning.
~
“To confess the truth, it was my greatest apprehension- as it would never be a measure of policy to turn out so quiet an individual as myself…it was my chief trouble.” Pg 304-305
This quote is about the letter torments Hawthorne, to do something with it. I’ve had situations like that. Something troubles me and there is something I need to do about it. Sometimes it’s writing, or drawing. The idea though is that different things in life, from pain to mysterious embroidery can inspire incredible stories.
Chapter 1: The Prison Door
The title, The Prison Door, is related to the Scarlet Letter’s symbol because it is where she received the scarlet letter and it is also where her humiliation began. The prison door is a stigma because only shameful people go to prison just like the scarlet letter is a literal representation of Hester’s shame. Also the prison door represents the hardships Hester is to face in the future because of the scarlet letter. When prisoners leave prison they are excited about their freedom, but are shunned from society for what they did. The prison door is described as a gloomy, upsetting door that doesn't bring happiness to the people that enter it. Hester's happiness ended after she entered the prison door, due to society knowing about her crime because of the scarlet letter.
Chapter 2 "The Leech and his Patient": Song
The Used - The Bird And The Worm Lyrics
The Used- "The worm and the bird"He wears his heartsafety pinned to his backpackHis backpack is all that he knowsShot down by strangerswhose glances can cripplethe heart and devour the soulAll alone he turns to stonewhile holding his breath half to deathTerrified of what’s insideto save his life he crawlslike a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdOut of his mind awaypushes him whisperingmust have been out of his mindmid-day delusions of pushing this out of his headmaybe out of his mindAll alone he turns to stonewhile holding his breath half to deathTerrified of what’s insideto save his life hecrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdAll he knowsIf he can't relieve it it growsand so it goeshe crawls like a wormcrawls like a worm from the birdOut of his mind awaypushes him whisperingmust have been out of his mindAll alone he turns to stonewhile holding his breath half to deathTerrified of what’s insideto save his life he crawlslike a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdAll alonehe's holding his breath half to deathTerrified to save his lifehe crawls like a wormCrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a worm from a birdcrawls like a wormcrawls like a wormcrawls like a worm from a bird
~ When Hester is standing before the crowd and she is experiencing flashbacks, the scarlet letter embroidered on her dress is like the “heart safety pinned to his backpack” line in the song. As Hester goes through her mind remembering her past to attempt to forget the presence of the crowd, the line “All alone he turns to stone while holding his breath half to death Terrified of what’s inside” is similar to how she would be feeling. Her memories would be the “mid-day delusions of pushing this out of his head maybe out of his mind”.
Chapter 3
The Recognition
The recognition of Chillingworth: While hester is on the stand she literaly recognises Chillingworth as her husband who was delayed in his coming. Chillingworth had just come out of the wilderness to witness his wife publicly shamed, this shame is a major theme throughout the book.
The recognition of adultery: By hester being put on the stand the crowd recognises Hesters crime publicly. The scarlet letter is also recognised as punishment for adultery, but unlike the public shame, the scarlet letter wont go away.
The recognition of importance: In this chapter the reader recognises the importance of Chillingworth to Hester by the focus the author puts upon them throughout the chapter. Chillingworth is a major character throughout the novel, he is a sourche of tension to the already tormented Hester.
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
“Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee.”
This quote relates easily to Hester. She has been branded with the scarlet letter. She wears it as a mark of shame for what she has done. She can’t give her daughter joy, a reason to be lively and joyful because at the time she herself has no none. A child needs the mother to show them by example, but Hester can’t while this is happening in her life. It can be depression, as in she has lost real happiness at this point. The townspeople just enforce this by keeping the brand alive, until later in the book. For the time being though, she suffers of the brand and can’t help her child. She feels helpless and miserable, a few symptoms of a major depressive disorder she might suffer in her seclusion.
Chapter 8
Is Hester an unfit mother?
No, Hester is not an unfit mother. Hester cares for Pearl and makes sure that she has all that she needs. Hester also corrects her daughter when she is wrong and tries to teach her morals and manners. Though Pearl is an elfish child who follows her whimsies, she does listen to her mother most of the time, which shows that she holds respect for her ; respect being an outcome of good parenting.
Chapter 9-10
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
In the The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers the King of Rohan and Wormtounge are similar to the characters Minister Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth in The Scarlet Letter. In the movie, Wormtounge (Chillingworth) feeds off of The king of Rohans (Dimmesdale) power and subverts him into the will of Sauroman. Wormtounge appears to be helping as the kings advisor but is actualy draining his morale and willpower. The king is left with no will to run his kingdom and beaten down by wormtounges subversion.
Chapter 11
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/citizen_times/access/2115334111.html?FMT=ABS&date=Aug+19,+2010
For this chapter I decided to pick the murder of a boy I knew, which most of you might have heard of. Whoever the killer was, he now has to live what he has done, let the guilt devour him until he comes forth and takes the righteous punishment, what he needs to pay for the pain that he has caused. It is similar to Dimmesdale, he lived his last years without coming out until the very end, he suffered for it and he died slowly thanks to it. Both situations would bring a merciless feeling of guilt, a feeling that will burn down the soul. Dimmesdale lived as a good man, he learned from the sin he had committed and changed. The murderer might be completely different, but everyone is human, everyone will have their just consequences in due time. The murderer might reflect, he might be a better person, but that is left unknown, like Dimmesdale until the end.
Chapter 13
Under The Skin
Under the skin she wears a brandHer embroidery made her less grandYet as time went by and she hid her headThe letter on her chest was no longer redShe labored and withstood the trialAs the crowd dripped kindness into her vialLittle did they remember, little did they careThe ignominy faded in midairShe begun to smile, life crawled backThrough the weathered crackEyes no longer stared, mouths no longer cursedAnd now the town was finally terseThe sin was repentedAnd her heart was no longer bentThe scars of past’s eventNo longer left a dent
This poem fits the way how Hester is treated in society now. She is no longer rejected and actually is appreciated by the community as a whole. Her stigma no longer is so important and she is now taken in as a productive member of society. The book says that she is rarely now judged by her letter. She has lived with the torment long enough, there is no reason to keep alive the ignominy she has felt as time passed by while she wore the beautiful trinket on her clothing.
Chapter 18
The minister Dimmesdale has become more forgiving of himself and wants to be a part of Pearl's life. He doesn't know if Pearl will accept him so this makes him nervous, but he gains determination from Hester to try and to also try to forgive himself. He seems to finally have the strength to push on and to strive for his happiness. The Author calls Dimmesdale by his first name, Arthur, because calling someone by their last name is considered honorable and Dimmesdale basically steps down from that honorable position to try to forgive himself. Also because he talks about running away with Hester and that would cause people to know the truth about the two of them. Basically he is being called Arthur because he is showing his true self.
Final Assignment
Hawthorne chooses a daughter because they can represent many things. From purity to mischief, she was the better fitting one. A boy would be troublesome and wouldn't easily look that deep into the matters of the letter. A boy wouldn't do a lot Pearl did, and she is a very compelling instrument of the whole story. Pearl asks questions that move the plot forward and is a very, very interesting character. The character that would have committed the greatest sin was Dimmesdale. He kept it to himself, the guilt was eating him alive, literally. He didn't confess until the very end. He let his lover suffer for him, he watched her suffer of that ignominy and not do a thing, not to lose his position in the clergy. His disease and weakness was a repercussion of him not being able to allow the guilt out. Feelings like guilt kill people, slowly and painfully. Dimmesdale might have the greatest sin, but he was able to overcome it, even at the end. He is a hero in a way, a fallen hero that comes back to the light at the last possible moment. He is by far the most dynamic character through the book, and possibly the strongest in will.